glass-bound

By Erin Winship

in front of me a blue abyss
quiet tranquil
anemones their delicate arms waving
beckoning
putting on a show with 
their vibrant and prismatic colors 
fish dashing scales glittering 
like jewels in sunlight
each species has a role in their
elaborate ballet 
clear water magic dancing
my mesmerized eyes       meet the manta’s smiling nostrils
as she gracefully glides past
wings gently moving her 
forward
if i lean in and look up
  i can see an old sea turtle
she takes her time
traversing
from
one side to another
of the tank
it’s as though they have their 
own language
just them and the the gentle motion of water
swirling and twirling around
eachother
circling this big loop
that they call home
do they know?
that they’re sentenced to stay here
g l a s s b o u n d 
until they die
they will never see the sea
do they know?
there’s no point in brushing away the tears on my cheeks
they’d only be replaced with more